Mackenzie Highway reopens after washout

Travellers should be able to begin driving the Mackenzie Highway later Wednesday evening, say N.W.T. highways officials.

Road crews have managed to open the highway to single-lane traffic after heavy rainstorms caused washouts at Km 371 and 386 earlier this week, about 100 kilometres south of Fort Simpson near Jean Marie River.

The Department of Transportation plans to re-open two flooded sections of Highway 1, the Mackenzie Highway, to one-lane traffic by 6 p.m. MT. Two-lane traffic should be restored by Thursday.

Crews were able to get to the damaged section Wednesday.

"About half the width of the road, for about 100 metres, was damaged at one of the washouts," said Highways spokesperson Bob Kelly. "And a much smaller section at the other washout. So, the damage was not as severe as they feared it might be."

Motorists are advised to watch for crews and equipment working in the affected areas.

• N.W.T. Highways: Road information